ATLANTA (AP) — Federal officials say one of Georgia’s largest vegetable farms has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle claims that the company discriminated against U.S. and black workers because of their race and national origin while giving better treatment to workers from Mexico.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement Thursday involving Hamilton Growers Inc., which has done business as Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable Inc. of Norman Park. Federal officials say the agreement resolves a lawsuit filed by the EEOC in September 2011.

The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged that the firm let most of its U.S. workers go but kept nearly all of its workers from Mexico. The lawsuit also maintained that black workers got fewer hours and were forced into less-lucrative work.

*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, spam, and links to outside websites will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides